Conner Celebrates Food Stamp Anniversary; Awards Grants

Acting Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner celebrated the 30th anniversary of the overhaul of the Food Stamp Act.

Sep 20, 2007

After being named acting Agriculture Secretary Thursday, Chuck Conner made his first official appearance in his new role to celebrate the 30 years since the Food Stamp Act was overhauled. He spoke about how after 1977 the rate of participation in the program grew considerably and the USDA now administers 15 different nutrition programs making up nearly 60 percent of the agency's budget.

At the celebration, Conner announced additional funding to continue to fight hunger. "USDA is awarding $18 million in bonuses to states that did exceptional work in administering the Food Stamp program; a little bit of an incentive to try harder to reach those in need."

Conner also announced that nearly $5 million dollars in grants was being awarded to modernize and simplify the Food Stamp program application process in Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Montana, and Louisville and Jefferson counties in Kentucky.